Whittier Elks Lodge celebrates 100th anniversary

WHITTIER - To paraphrase Snoopy, it was a dark and stormy night in December 1911 or at least that's how the tale goes of when the newly formed Whittier Elks Lodge No. 1258 initiated its first class of candidates, according to a historic account compiled by Eric Boteilho, who holds the inner guard position for the lodge.

Nearly 100 years later, the lodge - having survived the Great Depression, gone through several homes - is now celebrating its centennial anniversary.

"It's a lasting thing for us," said Mike Roche, assistant inner guard. "As I told the city of Whittier at an event, we're only 13 years younger. We're probably the oldest organization in Whittier."

The celebration began last weekend with an open house and breakfast for the public. Two dinners are planned in the future for members only.

Dave Carr, the grand exalted ruler of the national Elks organization, is expected to be present at a dinner celebrating a 100th anniversary event that almost didn't happen.

The lodge's official birth date is Nov. 11, 1911 when it was founded by 24 people.

The new members weren't initiated until December when officers from the Long Beach lodge were supposed to come, according to Boteilho's historical account.

A torrential downpour hit the night of the event and with roads that were little more than dirt and automobiles of questionable reliability, the Long Beach delegation couldn't make it, Boteilho stated.

"Undeterred, the new officers of Whittier lodge took their stations and performed the ritual," he wrote.

As a bonus with so many guests unable to make it, each member was sent home with half a dozen lobsters for their families, he said.

Over the next 100 years, the lodge would have its ups and downs.

The lodge initially leased space in several buildings until 1929 when they opened a new building at the southwest corner of Philadelphia Street and Painter Avenue.

But in 1935 - thanks to the economic problems from the Great Depression, the lodge gave up the building - now used by Whittier College.

During the 1940s, the Whittier lodge began growing again and playing a role in the community.

The Whittier Elks "Buy A Bomber" campaign raised $248,000 in war bonds in just 15 days.

In 1947, they sponsored a radio broadcast by comedian Bob Hope in the Whittier High School auditorium.

And on March 8, 1950, the lodge dedicated its current home.

By the 50th anniversary, the lodge had more than 2,000 members.

Through it all the lodge members had fun and also raised money for community charities.

"We're a charitable organization," said Neal Martin, the lodge's exalted ruler. "We do a lot of work for scholarships, we have our dance for handicapped children and we support veterans."

Unlike other clubs such as Rotary or Kiwanis, the Elks Lodge is not business-oriented, Roche said. "You don't talk about your business here. You don't join the lodge to expand your business."

It's also not an international organization.

In order to join, you must be an American citizen, believe in God, can't have a felony conviction and be sponsored by a member.

The Whittier lodge also had two celebrities - Billy Barty and Tennessee Ernie Ford - as members.

Since the 1990s, like many organizations, membership has declined significantly for the Whittier lodge - dropping to about 300.

"It's happening to all fraternal organizations - the Masons, the Moose and the Elks," Martin said. "The economy is down so we've lost a lot of members."

Still, membership has started to grow again in the last couple of years, Boteilho said.

"It takes a few of the younger people to come in, have fun and get the word out," he said.